For the last two months as he ascended from crossover curiosity to college football’s dominant player, it’s been impossible to avoid forming an opinion on…
For the last two months as he ascended from crossover curiosity to college football’s dominant player, it’s been impossible to avoid forming an opinion on whether Kyler Murray should fulfill his contract as a first-round pick of baseball’s Oakland Athletics or try to make the NFL as an undersized quarterback, where there is greater long-term risk but potentially greater rewards.
From scouts and executives all the way down to anonymous message board posters, where Murray fits and what he should do is the perfect sports debate for our times.
But it seems now, with Murray taking a step toward football Monday without fully committing to his future, the decision will essentially be made for him. The question isn’t so much what Murray would prefer to do, but rather, how badly does the NFL really want him?
After Sunday’s reported meeting with officials from the A’s and Major League Baseball, Murray entered the NFL draft on Monday, which only means he has not been persuaded yet to give up football and report to spring training next month as a first-round pick beginning his journey to the big leagues.
More: Heisman Trophy winner, first-round MLB pick Kyler Murray declares for NFL draft
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Maybe at some point during this process he will definitively choose baseball. For now, he is eligible to picked by an NFL team on April 25, which means at minimum he’s interested in learning more about where he fits.
It’s hard to know for sure what’s in Murray’s head. His simple tweet on Monday said only, “I have declared for the NFL Draft.”
But in the end, this might be less about what the A’s can do for Murray, how much more money they are willing to guarantee above his initial $4.
